Freewheeling mechanism for automobiles



Nov. 26, 1935. H BARTQN "FREEWHE'ELING MECHANISM Fon AUTQMoBILEs 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 20, 1951 Nov. 26,-;1935. c. H. BARToNFREEWHEELING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2o,19/31 Nov. 26, 1935. c. H. BARroN 2,022,071

FREEWHEELING mEcaANIsM Fon AUTOMOBILES Filed Nov. 20.1951 :ssheets-sheet s Y?" f//A atenied. ov. 2%, QS

PATENT oFFicr.

FBEEWHEELING MEcnANlsM ron AU'roMonmEs Clarence H. Barton, Indianapolis,Ind., ssslgnor, by mesne assignments, to William C. Starkey,

Raymond S. trustees Pruitt,

and Walter H. Beal,I

Appueetien November zo, 1931, serial No. 576,382

23 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in free wheeling mechanisms forautomobiles and it consists of the matters hereinafter described andmore particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The free wheeling mechanisms with which the invention is moreparticularly concerned are those which are located as a unit at thepower take-off end of the transmission and such a mechanism usually hasassociated therewith, some means whereby the free wheeling action may berendered inoperative or locked-ou as it is known in the industry.

Experience has proven that it is more convenient in locking-out such amechanism, to do so when the engine is driving the vehicle. At lthistime, there is no relative movement between the two coacting clutchmembers of the unit, but the attempt to lock the two clutch members oithe unit at this time, may meet with resist-.ance due to the fact thatthe spline teeth of said members are not in line. Should the operator atthis time, maintain a pressure on the lock-out lever and then easeoif onthe accelerator for the engine, there will be a slow differential inrotative movement between said clutch members, whereby the lock-outcollar can be shifted because of the lining up of the spline teeth ofsaid members. The above is the recommended practice -for locking-outfree wheeling action. However, in order to meet conditions as they arisein the hands of the driving public and especially for the benefit of theunskilled or novice drivers, in emergency cases, it is desirable tolock-out the free wheeling mechanism,

when the clutch pedal of the vehicle is depressed,

it appearing that such a clutch pedal movement is substantiallyautomatic with such drivers, due to habit which cannotbe readilyovercome.

One of the objects ofthe present invention is to provide a free wheelingmechanism of this kind which can be readily locked-out by the provisionof means which actsL to synchronize the relatively rotating clutchmembers of the mechanism during the movement of the associated lock-outcollar, induced by the actuation of the clutch pedal of the vehicle inwhich said mechanis'm is embodied.

The above mentioned' object of the invention as well as others, togetherwith the several advantages thereof will more fully occur as I pro- (Cl.19H8) invention, as employed in connection with the transmission thereofand one of the foot pedals which is operated in driving theautomobile.

Fig. la is a detail section of a portion of the manual lock-out controlfor the mechanism. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional viewthrough the improved mechanism and associated end of the transmission,on an enlarged scale, as

taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 3. y

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view l0 through the improvedfree wheeling mechanism as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a part of saidmechanism as taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional perspective view illustratingsynchronizable parts of the lock-out mechanism, and which will be morefully referred to later.

The invention is especially adapted for use in connection with a freewheeling mechanism arranged at the rear end of the transmission andassociated with the power take-ofi end of the driven shaft of saidtransmission.

In general, the improved mechanism includes a casing secured inanysuitable manner to the rear end of the transmission and furtherv in-Acludes a secondary driven shaft, axially arranged 'with the driven shaftof the transmission, and

provided with means for operative connection with the propeller shaft ofthe automobile. The driven shaft of the transmission projects into saidcasing and there has secured to it a rearwardly facing cup-like clutchmember, which coacts with a forwardly facing, similar clutch 83 memberon the secondary driven shaft to provide a. clutch spring receivingpocket. In said pocket is located a clutch spring which in the relativerotation between said vclutch members in one direction, changes itsdiameter to clutch 40" said clutch members together.

Said clutch members are externally splined to receive a pair ofinternally splined 'shiftable lock-out collar members, which thoughrelatively rotatable, are longitudinally inseparable, the adjacent endsoi said collar parts being formed to provide coacting synchronizingsurfaces. The lock-out collar is actuated and is shifted in onedirection, into lock-out position, by means ofthe clutch pedal by whichthe trans- I0 mission gearing is operatively connected tofanddisconnected from the engine, and is moved out of lock-out position bymeans of a spring.

In the shifting of the lock-out collar ,into

lock-out position, 'the shifting pressure of the Blfyond said wall.

yoke in the initial part of its shift is yieldably resisted by meanscarried by the clutch member associated with said secondary drivenshaft. This yielding resistance causes the synchronizing surfaces of thelock-out collar parts to engage and bring the rotative speed of saidlock-out collar parts into synchronism and in the final part of theshift of the yoke, said yielding resistance is overcome so that thelock-out collar is shifted to lock-out position when both clutch membersare Vrotating at substantially the same speed or are synchronized.

`Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention,illustrated in' the drawings:- indicates as a whole, the transmissioncasing of an automobile, connected at its front end to the bell-shapedclutch housing 2 of the automobile. The transmission casing includes theusual shift rods 3 and 4 for the forward and reverse speed of the drivenshaft 5 of said transmission. On the top of the transmission casing is acover 8 in which is mounted in the usual manner a lever 1 by which thedesired shift rod may be selectively .engaged and shifted forwardly orrearwardly, to yield the desired forward speed or reverse for saiddriven shaft 5. Said driven shaft is journalled in antifriction bearings8 in the rear wall I of the transmission casing and has a splined end 9projecting rearwardly be- Within the clutch housing 2 (which isoperatively connected in the conventional manner with an associatedengine, not shown) is the usual clutch. 'I'his clutch is actuated by aclutch pedal I so that the trans- .mission may be connected to anddisconnected from said engine for the purposes Well-known.

Secured to the rear Wall I* of the transmission casing is vthe casing II of a free wheeling unit or mechanism and which casing II includes anupright rear wall I2. Said wall I2 is formed to receive an antifrictionbearing I3 and includes a rearwardly extending hollow boss I4.Journalled in said bearing I3 is the mdportion I5 of a secondary drivenshaft and the rear end of said secondary driven shaft I5 has splined toit the hub I6 of a combined coupling member I1 and the drum I8 for theemergency brake. Secured to4 the shaft I5 between the bearing I3 and hubof the coupling member. I1, within the boss I4 isa Worm gear I9 fordriving a worm 20 operatively connected to the speedometer in the mannerwell known.

Secured to the splined end 9 of the driven shaft 5 Aof the transmissionrearwardly of the bearing 3 and extending into the. free wheeling unitcasing II is a rearwardly facing, cup-like clutch member 2| havingexternal spline teeth 22. The front end of the secondary shaft I5 ismade as a similar but forwardly, facing cup-like clutch member 23,having relatively short external spline teeth 24 at the'front endthereof, the said clutch member abutting the clutch member 2| and theteeth 22-24 matching up with each other. 'Ihe clutch member 23 includesa tubular front end extension '25 that overhangs the hub of the clutchmember 2| and this last mentioned clutch member isv held in place uponthe splined end 9 of the shaft 5 by a nut 28.

The clutch members 2 I-j-23 coact to provide an internal clutch surface21 for engagement by a coiled clutch spring 28 and between the front endof the extension andthe clutch member 2| is an antifriction bearingv29.The rear end of the clutch spring has a toed connection at a speedgreater than that of the clutch memwith the clutch member 23 andassociated with and operatively connected to the front end of Saidspring is a more sensitive energizing spring 3| having a slightfrictional drag or engagement with a part of the clutch surface 21 asafford by the clutch member 2|.

In the relative rotative movement between said clutch members in onedirection, the spring end 3| is picked up by the clutch member 2| andtends .to rotate therewith relative to the toed end of the spring 23.This will cause the clutch spring 28 to unwind and radially expand andgrip against the clutch surface 21 so as to clutch the two clutchmembers together. Should the clutch member 23 be rotated in saiddirection toed end and is decreased in diameter so as to release itsgripping action from the clutch .irface 21 so that the clutch member 23overruns the clutch member 2| with a free wheeling action.

Means are provided for locking-out the free wheeling mechanism when theclutch pedal I8 is actuated to disconnect the transmission from theassociated engine, previous to operating the shift lever 1 to provideeither a, forward or reverse drive for the shaft 5 of the transmissionand such means are as follows:-

Associated with the clutch member 2|-23 is a 30 lock-out collarindicated as a whole by the numeral 32. Said collar as best shown inFig. 5. includes a pair of relatively rotatable collar parts 33 and 34respectively, so connected together as tobe longitudinally movable ineither direction without separation. The collar part 33 is provided atits front end with internal spline teeth. 35 for engagement with thoseon the clutch member 23 and said collar part is further provided nearits rear end with a V-shaped internal groove 36. On the front end ofsaid collar part is a'. radial flange, overhung by a forwardly taperedring 31 preferably of a metal, different from that of the collar part 33and having a better fricvtional property or characteristic. The collarpart 34 is provided with internal spline teeth 38 for engagement withthe spline teeth 22 in one instance and with the teeth 22 and 24 inanother instance as will later appear. The rear end of. said collar part34 is enlarged in diameter and 50 overhangs the front end of the collarpart 33 and carries an internal ring 39 for engagement behind the flangeon the front end of the collar part 33v and said ring 39 is held inposition by a spring lring 40 which snaps into an internal 55 annulargroove in the rear end of said collar part 34. In said rear end part ofenlarged diameter of the collar part 34, is provided an internaltaperedor coned surface 4| for engagement with the corresponding surfaceof the ring 31 before 60' mentioned. -It is apparent that with theconstruction of the'collar 32 as before described, said collar partswhile being` relatively rotatable, are movable endwise `withoutseparation. In said collar part 34 about midway of its ends is an ex- 65ternal annular groove 42 for a purpose soon to appear. Y In the top partof the casing, in line with the .reverse shift rod or rail 4 of thetransmission are front and rear tubular bosses 43 and 44 re- 70'spectively in which a rod 45 has longitudinal sliding bearing. The rearend of this rod is recessed to receive the front end of a spring 46, therear end of4 said spring engaging against a stop as provided by a discand cotter pin 41 in the rear 75 between the bosses 4H; vis the hub l2of a yoke Il having diverging-arms il, the free ends of which engage inthe groove 42. of the lock-out collar part 3l. A dud ii extendslaterally from one-side of the huband on this `stud is a roller B2.

'Ifhe spring llbefore mentioned isan expansion spring and normallyurges" the rod .4I vforwardly until itis stoppediby the engagement ofthe yoke ll with the rear'end of the boss,

In the left handsidewall of the casing ii is iournalled a rock shaft BIand secured tothat end of said shaft within the casing Ill is anupwardly extending arm Il engagingl the front side of the roller B2 onthe yoke Il Secined to that end of the shaft lt outside said wall of thecasing vIl is a depending arm. This arm is connected up to the clutchpedal II by a link I in which is provided a turn buckle I1.

In the rearvface of the clutch member 23 is. an annular pocket Il and inthe rear end of said clutch member are pairs of radially extending,recesses andfholes Il and il! respectively, the recesses being -disposed-in the central portion of said clutch memberand the holes beingdisposed -ln theiouter peripheral portion of said clutch member, therecesses being ofa larger diameter at the outer end. 'In the annularpocket 58 are located a plurality of arcuate weights Il each including aradial opening l2 enlarged at 'its inner end. A pin 62 is associatedwith .each weight and has an enlarged coned head at its outer end forengagement in an associated hole Il and the inner end of said pinextends in guiding engagement .in an associated lrecess 5l. Asprlng `64surrounds a portion of each pin 63 between ther associated weight y6Iand the central part of the clutch member 23,"and acts to normally urgethe associated weight outwardly. The coned` outer end of each pin I2, isformed in accordance with and extends into thesgroove 26 in the lock-outclutch pedal movement disconnects the transmission from the engineduring the actuation of said lever. Thus `with each depression of theclutch pedal, the transmission is passive with respect to the engine asit is not being driven by the engine.

In the depression of the clutch pedal, the lever l! and arm Il on therock shaft are swung clock wise due to the link connection between theclutch pedal and lever 55. In this movement of the arm Il, it engagesthe roller 52 on the stud 5I of the hub 48 and pushes said hub and itsrod I5 rearwardly. In this movement of the rod l5, the spring 46 will beput under compression and the i yoke will 'act to impart a rearwardmovement -ward movement imparted to the collar member' 34 by the yoke,will ilrst bring the surface 4I of said collar part 24 into engagementwith the surface 31 on the collar part Il and will push the 3 i i.' Thisrearward movement of thecollar'partisresistedatthistimeonlyby the springpressure ofthe pins which are all. depressed inwardly so that suchresistance is only normal nur which um collar part u mamme two clutchmembers 2 |2l to lock them together. In the acceleration of the engineduring the release of the clutch pedal after the-shift lever 1 has beenactuated, power is transmitted from the shaft I, through the clutchmembersy 2I-23 and 10 collar part `24 to the secondary driven shaft,so

. that both clutch members are rotating together.

During the release or return movement of' the clutch pedal II, thespring 4B acts through the rod Il and yoke Il to restore free wheelingaction as is apparent..

In the depression of the clutch pedal previous to shifting into `secondspeed forward, the`yoke Il again moves rearwardly and with the autmofbile under way because of momentum it is apwardly. In the initialpart-of this movement, said collar part will move its tapered surfacefinto engagement with the associated surface 21 on the collar part Iland will tend to push it rearwardly. VAs this rearward movement of thecollar part 32 is being resisted by the action of the spring pressedpins 83 which action is now in creased Aby the centrifugal action of theweights ll acting upon said pins. it'is apparent, that the collar part34 becomes synchronized with the col- 40 lar part 32 to bring the speedof the transmission up to that of the clutch member 23. In the finalpart of the endwise movement of the collar parts 23-24 theresistanceoiiered by thejpins I3 is overcome and they are depressed inwardly sothat the two collar parts are moved rearwardly as a unit and in thisinal part of the movement of said collar parts, the teeth 22 of thecollar part Il, bridge the teeth on the clutch members 2 |234 andpositively connect them together. In the acceleration of the engineduring such shift, the automobile gains momentumand upon release of theclutch pedal, wherein the transmission is again connected to the engine,the clutch collar parts 23-34 are again returned to free wheeling 55position which is best shown in Fig. 2.

In going from second speed forward to third speed forward, the operationis the same as that above described. It is, of course, apparent that asin all conventional three speed forward and reverse transmissions, toprovide reverse, the clutch pedal ylil must be depressed to disconnectthe transmission from the engine after which the shift lever 1 must bemanipulated to set the transmission for such reverse movement. In thedepression of the clutch pedal, the collar 32 is moved rearwardly asbefore through the lever 55 and arm 54 acting upon the yoke I9. In thismovement of the yoke, as it is fixed to the rod 45, said rod is movedrearwardly as before, thus again compressing the spring. In themanipulation of the shift lever 1 to provide reverse, the shift rod orrail lois moved rearwardly so that when the clutch pedal is released toreturn to its normal position, the collar parts are held against a re-754 turn movement because of the positionnf the shift rod or rail-Iwhich prevents return movementof the rod 4l. Thus the clutch members2I-23 are positively connected together so that the drive is from theshaft l through the clutch members 2I-23 and collar part 3l, to theseclondary drivenshaft.

When the lever 1 is manipulated to return the e With the free wheeling m"hanism arranged as it is in this instance, at t e rearend of thetransmission shaft, the transmission may beactuated to provide dillerentspeeds forward without the use ofthe clutchpedal, should it be sodesired. Thus with the provision for shifting with -or without clutchpedal operation, the shift is optional with the driver.

It is apparent that with the arrangement described, relatively smallsynchronizing surfaces between the collar parts 33-34 are practicalbecause they only need have a capacity strong enough to accelerate thetransmission up to the speed of the clutch member 33, and said surfacesdo not have 4to be large enough to accelerate the engine because whenthe free wheeling action is locked out, the clutch pedal has beendepressed to disconnect the transmission from the engine.

It is also apparent from the foregoing that when the clutch pedal isdepresed'to disconnect the transmission from the engine, the pressure ofthe collar part 33 necessary to depress the pin 63 will cause engagementof the surfaces 31 and 4i so that the transmission which is now freefrom the engine and is coupled to theclutch member 23 through theengagement of said surfaces, will gradually bring up the transmission tothe speed of the secondary driven shaft, after which the i'lnal part ofthe movement of the collar 32 as a whole can be completed without aclashing of the spline teeth of the ,clutch members and collar.

The mechanism described locks-out the free wheeling action each time adifferent transmission speed is afforded through a depression andrelease ofthe clutch pedal and a shift of the transmission lever. Thus adecided factor in safety'is attained because the novice driver inmoments of confusion cannot so manipulate the free wheeling mechanism toclash the teeth thereof with probable disastrous results.

The arrangement described readily lends itself to the provision of alock-out collar control, manually operable from the dash for providing anon-free wheeling transmission when so desired. To provide such aconstruction, the rear end of the link 56 is provided with `alongitudinal slot 56* to receive the connection 561 with the lever 55.The lever 55 is provided with an arcuate slot 55* in which a stud 55b isslidably mounted. Manual control of the lever 55 for free wheelinglock-out purposes is effected by means of a wire 65 which is enclosed ina tubular cable 66. One end of this wire extends 'through the distal endof the lever 55 and is connected to the stud 551 as shown in Fig. 1a.-The other end of said wire is provided with a knob or button 81 mountedin bushings 68 fixed in the dash or instrument board 63.

- should 1t be desired te leek-eut the free wheeling mechanism, a pullon the knob or button 81 will through the wire 65, swing the lever 55fore wardly in a clockwise direction to shift the lockout collar intolock-out position as before described. In this movement vof the leverIl, the clutch pedal is in no manner aected as the connection Nb willmerely move in the slot ll. The 5 friction of the wire 35 in its tubularcable l. is sumcient to hold the collar 32 in lock-out position againstthe action 'of the spring 4l. Thus it is possible to operate thetransmission as a conventional non-free wheeling one. After the freewheeling action has thus been locked out, a push on the knob 61 willreturn parts to free wheeling position. .When the clutch pedal isoperative to swing the lever Il forwardly, this in no manner affectsthewire B5 as its rear end will simply slide 15 relatively'to the lever5B because of the sliding arrangement of the stud 55h in the slot 55; as

will be apparent from Fig. 1a.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to theform, arrangement and construction of the parts thereof, the same is tobe considered merely as illustrative so that I do not wish to be limitedthereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my inventioml. A mechanism of the kind described embodyingtherein, a pair of coacting clutch members and clutch means foroperatively connecting them together in a relative rotation in onedirection, to provide a free wheeling action therebetween, shiftablemeans including relatively rotatable parts for positively locking saidclutch members together independent of said clutch means, and means forsynchronizing the rotational speed of said relativelyrotatable parts inthe initial portion of the shifting of said shiftable means to sopositively lock said clutch members together.

2. A mechanism of the kind described embodying therein, a pair ofcoaxial clutch members formed to provide-a clutch spring pocket, aclutch spring in said pocket and operable in a relative rotation of theclutch members in one direction for operatively connecting themtogether, shiftable means for locking said clutch members togetherindependent of said clutch spring and including a part engaged in eachclutch member for synchronizing the rotational speed of the clutchmembers previous to the engagement of one` of said parts with bothclutch members to lock them together.

3. A mechanism of the kind described embodying therein, a pair of clutchmembers formed to provide a clutch spring pocket, a clutch spring insaid pocket and operable in a relative rotation of the clutch members inone direction for operatively connecting them together, shiftable meansfor locking said clutch members together independent of said spring, apedal used in operating the automobile in which saidmechanism isemployed, means actuated by said pedal for imparting movement to saidshiftable means to connect said clutch members together independent ofsaid clutch spring and other means arranged for operative engagementwith said last mentioned means for shifting said shiftable meansindependent of the' pedal to so positively lock said clutch memberstogether.

4. A mechanism of the kind described embodying therein, a pair ofcoaxial clutch members formed to provide a clutch spring pocket,avclutch spring in said pocket and operable inv a relative rotation ofthe clutch members in one direction for operatively connecting themtogether, ashiftable lock-out collar for connectmessia members togetherponuvelygnd tly of said clutch spring, a pedal used independ woperatingthe automobile. in which the mechanism is employed, means for connectingsaid collar and pedal together so that in a part of the movement of saidpedal the collar is moved 4to'positively connect said clutch membersto-v y5. A mechanism of the kind described embodying therein, a pair -ofcoacting clutch members and clutch means for operatively connecting themtogether in a relative rotationin one direction, a pedal used inoperating the automobile in which said mechanism is employed and. meanscomprising -a collar including aplurality of relatively` .rotatableparts actuated by said pedal for synchronizing said clutch membersandthen positively connecting them together independent of said clutchmeans.

6'. A mechanism of .the kind described embodying therein, a p ofcoacting clutch members and clutch means or 'operatively connecting'them together in a relative rotation -in one dipedal for synchronizingsaid clutch members and then positively connecting them togetherindependent of said clutch means.

7. A mechanism of the kind described embodying therein, a pair ofcoacting clutch members and clutch means for operatively connecting themtogether in a relative rotation in one direction, a pedal used inoperating the automobile in which the mechanism is employed, shiftablemeans for connecting said clutch members together independent of saidclutch means, means connecting said shiftable means and pedal andoperating in the depression of said pedal for first synchronizing therotational speed of said clutch members and then positively connectingthem together independent of said clutch means, means operating in therelease of said pedal for actuating said shiftable means so as torelease the positive connection between said clutch members and forrestoring the free wheeling action of said clutch means and other meansfor shifting said Y shiftable means, independent of said pedal and'without aifecting its position.

8. In a mechanism of the kind described, a shaft rotatable in eitherdirection, a second and coaxial shaft to be driven thereby, coactingclutch members o'n said shafts, clutch means operating in a relativerotation of said shafts,in one direction for clutching said clutchmembers together to provide a free wheeling action, a lockout collarincluding collar parts, each rotative with an associated clutch memberand longitudinally shiftable to positively connect said clutch memberstogether by locking out said clutch means and means operating in ajshifting of said collar toward lock-out position for synchronizing therotational speed of said collar parts.

9. In a. mechanism of the kind described, ashaft rotatable in eitherdirection, a secondand coaxial shaft to be driven thereby, coactingclutch members on said shafts, formed to provide a clutch spring pocketon the inside of said clutch A members, a spring in said pocket andoperating in a relative rotation of said shafts in one direction toclutch said members together, and a lock-out collar includingcollarparts on the outside of said clutch 'members and normally rotativetherewith 4 and longitudinallyl shiftable y to positively connectsaidclutch members together by locking out the action ofvsaid clutch-spring,5

said collar parts having surfaces arranged for engagement in theshifting of said collar parts inone direction for synchronizing therotative speed of said collar parts before they loc-k out the actlonzofsaid clutch spring. 1 10'. In 4a 'mechanism of the kind described, a

shaft rotatable in either direction, a second shaft coaxial therewithand to be driven thereby, co-

acting clutch members on said shafts, clutch means for connecting saidclutch members to- -longitudinal shifting movement of said Vcollar partsin one direction to cause an engagement of said' synchronizing surfacesto synchronize thel rotational speed of said collar parts in the initialpartofthe shifting movement in one direction and previousto that part ofsaid movement which positively locks said clutch members together.

11. In a mechanism of the kind described, a

shaft rotatable in either direction, a second shaft l coaxial therewithand to be driven thereby, coacting clutch members on said shafts, clutchmeans for connecting said clutch members to- -`gether in a relativerotation in one direction, a

ing the resistance to such a shifting movement o of said collar inaccordance with the increase o the speed of said second shaft.

12. In combination with two .axially disposed clutch members -coactingto provide a clutch spring pocket, a clutch spring in said pocket andoperating in a relative rotation in one direction to clutch said clutchmembers together, a twopart lock-out collar normally surrounding saidclutch members and having a splined connection therewith, said collarparts being relatively rotatable but being longitudinally movabletogether and having portions formed to provide synchronizing surfaces,said 4collar parts being shiftable in one direction to positivelyconnect said clutch'members'together independent of said 55 spring, andmeans carried by one of ysaid clutch members and having portionsengaging its associated" clutch collar part and yieldably resisting thelongitudinal shifting of said collar parts into lock-out position, tocause engagement of said 6o surfaces and the synchronization of saidcollar parts and clutch members in the initial part of the movement ofsaid collar parts toward lockout position. l

13. In combinationV with two axially disposed clutch members, coactingtoprovide 'a clutch spring pocket, a clutch spring in said pocket andoperating in a relative rotation in one direction to clutch said clutchmembers together, a twofpart lock-out collar normally surrounding saidclutch members and having a splined connection therewith, said collarparts being relatively rotatable but being longitudinally movabletogether and having portions formed to provide synchronizing surfaces,said col- 75 parts engaging the collar partassociated with said one oi'said clutch members for yieldably rei sisting the longitudinal shiftingof said collar parts into lock-out position to cause engagement of saidsurfaces and the synchronization of said collar parts and clutch membersin the initial part of the movement of said collar parts toward lockoutposition. v

14. In combination with a casing enclosing an automotive clutch andincluding an operating pedal therefor, a transmission including a shiftlever and a driven shaft, a free wheeling mechanism associated with saidshaft of the transmission and driven thereby and including coactingclutch members and a clutch means for operatively connecting themtogetherl in a relative rotation in one direction, shiftable meansincluding relatively rotatable parts associated with said clutch membersfor positively connecting the clutch members together and thus lockingout` said clutch means and means operating in the actuation of saidpedal for shifting said parts of said shiftable means for positivelyconnecting said clutch members together, said parts of said shiftablemeans including means for synchronizing them previousto positivelyconnecting said clutch members.

15. In combination with va casing enclosing an automotive clutch andincluding an operating pedal, a transmission including a driven shaftanda lever for selectively providing forward speeds and reverse for saidshaft, a free wheeling mechanism associated with said shaft of saidtransmission and driven thereby and including coacting clutch membersand a clutch means for operatively connecting them together in arelative rotation in one direction, shiftable but relatively rotatablecollars associated with said clutch members for positively connectingthem together and thus locking out said clutch means, means operating inthe depression of said pedal for moving said shiftable collars firstintob. position synchronizing them and then into lock-out position inproviding either a forward or reverse drive for the transmission, andmeans for shifting said shiftable collars out of lock-out position ingoing into neutral for said transmission.

16. In combination with a casing enclosing an automotive clutch andincluding an operating pedal, a transmission including a driven shaftand a lever for selectively providing forward speeds and reverse forsaid shaft, a free wheeling mechanism associated with said shaft of saidtransmission and driven thereby and including coacting clutch membersand a clutch means for operatively connecting them together in a.relative rotation in one direction, shiftable collars associated withsaid clutch members for positively connecting them together and thuslocking out said clutch means, means operating in the depression of saidpedal for moving said shiftable collars to lock-out position inproviding either a forward or reverse drive for the transmission, meansoperating in the release of said pedal in any of the forward speeds ofthe transmission for moving said shiftable collars outz` of lock-outposition, and means actuated by thelever when set to provide reverse forthe transmission for preventing said means operated in the release ofthe pedal from moving saidv collars out of lockout position.

17. A mechanism of the kind described enibodying therein a pair ofcoacting clutch membersA and a clutch means for operatively con- .5necting them together in a relative rotation in one direction to providea free wheeling action therebetween, means for locking out said actioncomprising relatively rotatable parts that are shiftable togetherlongitudinally, means for shifting-saig parts into a position positivelylocking said clutch members together, and means operating in the initialpart of said shift for offering a. yielding resistance thereto so. as tobring said parts into engagement for synchronizing them previous to thenal part of said shift.

18. A mechanism of the kind described embodying thereina pair ofcoacting clutch members and a clutch means for operatively connectingthem together in a relative rotation in one direction to provide a freewheeling action therebetween, means for locking out said actioncomprising relatively rotatable parts that are shiftable togetherlongitudinally, means for shifting said parts into a position positivelylocking said clutch members together, and means arranged radially of oneof the clutch members for offering a yielding resistance to said shiftof said together in a relative rotation in one direction to provide afree wheeling action therebetween, means for locking out said actioncomprising relatively rotatable parts that are shiftable togetherlongitudinally, means for shifting said parts into a position positivelylocking said clutch members together, and means arranged radially'40 ofone of the clutch members for oiering a yielding resistance to saidshift of said parts so as to bring them into synchronizing engagementprevious to the final part of the shift, said last mentioned means beingso formed as to increase said resistance in proportion with the rotativespeed of the associated clutch member.

20. A mechanism of the kind described embodying therein, a pair ofcoacting clutch members, and clutch means for operatively connectingthem together in a relative rotation in one direction to provide a freewheeling action therebetween, shiftable means for' positively lockingsaid clutch members together independent of said clutch means, arockable lever, means for translating the rocking movement of said leverinto a shifting movement of the shiftable means, a pedal used inoperating the automobile in which the mechanism is employed, meansconnecting said pedal and lever for imparting a rocking movement theretofor shifting said shiftable means to positively lock said clutch memberstogether, and other means independent of said pedal operatively engagedwith said lever forrocking the same for shifting said shiftable means tolock said clutch members together.

21. A mechanism of the kind described embodyl ing therein, a pair ofcoacting clutch members and clutch means for operatively connecting themembers together in a relative rotation in one direcy tion to provide afree wheeling action therebetween, shiftable means for positivelylocking said clutch members together independent of said clutch means, arocking lever, means for translating the rocking movement of said leverinto means each having 'a lost motion connection with said lever,whereby said'lever may be rocked either through the pedal withoutaffecting said other means or through said other means without affectingthe pedal.

22. The combination of a driving member and a driven member, clutchbodies each drivingly connected to an associated member,'peripheralteeth on said clutch bodies, clutch means engageable with both of saidclutch bodies for establishing a one way drive between said bodies, asleeve comprising relatively rotatable parts that are axially movabletogether as a unit, internal teeth on said sleeve parts normally engagedwith those on said clutch bodies, said sleeve parts when moved axially,engaging the internal teeth of one of said parts with the peripheralteeth on both of said clutch bodies to establish a twoway drive betweensaid bodies, and means associated withnsaid sleeve parts and operatingin the initial portion of the axial movement thereof in one directionVfor synchronizing said sleeve parts prior to connecting said clutchbodies together for the two way drive between them. 5

p 23. A mechanism ni the kind described embodying therein a pair ofcoacting clutch members and clutch means for operatively connecting themembers together in a relative rotation in one direction, shiftablemeans for positively-locking 10 said clutch members togetherindependently of the clutch means, a clutch pedal used in operating theautomobile in which said mechanism is employed, means connecting theclutch pedal to the'shiftable means and operable in the depres- 15 sionof said pedal vto shift said shiftable means into its operativeposition, a Wire for manually shifting said shiftable means into and outof its operative position and a connection between the wire and saidshiftable means whereby the wire 20 is operable to shift the shiftablemeans into its operative position independently of and without affectingthe position of the pedal.

CLARENCE H. BARTON.

